I would love to use paper plates but it's really not that cost effective. Washing dishes, even with the cost of water, electric, soap, is cheaper for me. I hand wash my mismatched dishes that I pick out because I thought they were pretty at flea markets, garage sales and other places. I like ceramic/glass plates. Hate plastic ones. But as I have a friend that seems to break dishes, no she isn't throwing them around in a fit of anger, she is just clumsy as crap, she need plastic non-breakable ones. Kids do too. But buying paper, because I will not use the foam ones, was out of my budget's reach. Although I tried really hard because I am lazy and don't like washing dishes but I hate dishwashers more so.... I hand wash my dishes and don't worry about things I will not change. LOL

If I wasn't so lazy, I would never consider using paper plates at home because I think food should look pretty, smell tempting, taste great and be something I look forward to. But then, as lazy as I am, I tend to eat a lot of sandwiches too. LOL Make them look fancy by cutting in half, putting on plate with a bowl of soup or a pile of chips on the side. Or use a disposable paper towel and eat the chips out of the bag and soup out of the pot you cooked it in. Saves on washing dishes. LOL

But really, I pay for my garbage to be removed. I have also lived in neighborhoods that didn't have garbage pickup and you had to burn or take off your garbage yourself. Rinse out all the food and stuff or critters got into your garbage and scattered it. You learn that paper plates are garbage you can live without. For me, in reality, it's a garbage thing. Maybe I'll buy another burn barrel.... Let the garbage go and save some cash.... Naw, I won't. I'm lazy like that. LOL